Bellingham, the ugly truth.... (Seattle, Tacoma: affordable house, campers, eat)

[charleecrat]

Originally Posted by west seattle gal

Seattle continues to spread outward as more people find it difficult to purchase homes and suffer the daily commute. Bellingham will see a lot of these transplants, and as they move here, the economy will also change. Once a few tech companies relocate, this place will transform. Bellingham already has the bones for this -- a hospital and good medical network, airport and train access, numerous hotels, developing waterfront, proximity to Seattle and Vancouver, etc... We also have stunning views, a nearby mtn for winter sports, the bay and lakes for water sports, several gorgeous parks, great access to nature or farms, coffee shops, breweries, independent stores of all types, a fairly educated population, a university, a ferry to Alaska, etc... stuff that high tech hipsters find valuable. People are snatching up homes because we offer great quality of life and will be THE place to be. What may be unaffordable to some is considered smart investment to others.

I agree, I was told Bellingham has everything Seattle has to offer without all the traffic and congestion. Im still in sticker shock over house prices up here compared to the south like Dallas but compared to Seattle Bellingham looks like a bargain

[Tupelo Kidd]

20 years ago I bought 6 acres for $12.000 put home ,shop and outbuildings snow they say it's worth 290,000 , city water, septic, private well , and nooooo neighbors that you can see because you're in the forest. Adding on to my shop this week my completed shop will be 60' x 52' 3 bays and hoist in shop.

[charleecrat]

Originally Posted by Tupelo Kidd

20 years ago I bought 6 acres for $12.000 put home ,shop and outbuildings snow they say it's worth 290,000 , city water, septic, private well , and nooooo neighbors that you can see because you're in the forest. Adding on to my shop this week my completed shop will be 60' x 52' 3 bays and hoist in shop.

ill give ya 150 for it cash lol

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by Tupelo Kidd

20 years ago I bought 6 acres for $12.000 put home ,shop and outbuildings snow they say it's worth 290,000 , city water, septic, private well , and nooooo neighbors that you can see because you're in the forest. Adding on to my shop this week my completed shop will be 60' x 52' 3 bays and hoist in shop.

That price isn't much, in the city limits of B'ham, for what you have on the property. Where are you located?

[slowlane3]

[/quote]We did the single income thing for 25 yrs, and still live o the same $40/ month spending money, and drive a $35 car that gets 50 mpg (on grease, No OPEC or dinosaurs required), still buy my tires for $5 ea at the junk yard[/quote]

$40/ month spending money, seriously ???? And a $35 car - do you mean $3500????

[xPlorer48]

Originally Posted by west seattle gal

Seattle continues to spread outward as more people find it difficult to purchase homes and suffer the daily commute. Bellingham will see a lot of these transplants, and as they move here, the economy will also change. Once a few tech companies relocate, this place will transform. Bellingham already has the bones for this -- a hospital and good medical network, airport and train access, numerous hotels, developing waterfront, proximity to Seattle and Vancouver, etc... We also have stunning views, a nearby mtn for winter sports, the bay and lakes for water sports, several gorgeous parks, great access to nature or farms, coffee shops, breweries, independent stores of all types, a fairly educated population, a university, a ferry to Alaska, etc... stuff that high tech hipsters find valuable. People are snatching up homes because we offer great quality of life and will be THE place to be. What may be unaffordable to some is considered smart investment to others.

And, then the quality of life will go away. As a native and fifth generation local, I do not want more people moving here. Of course, you weren't here over the past decades so you cannot appreciate what this area used to be like.

[perigee]

Lived in Bellingham years ago, moved away, moved back and I have to say I like the new Bellingham. Will it eventually have too many people move here, maybe, but we're no where near that point.

Bham has a bigger brand new Costco, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods (their ready to eat food is amazing), gentrification has improved neighborhoods that use to be a bit seedy and it's great to see all the other new local businesses popping up. Young men and women making a go at it, employing a bunch of eager hardworking people. I was talking to one developer that was building multifamily homes in Lynden and was told that all the units are already rented even before construction was finished! We have housing issues, but slowly we're closing the gap.

Could this be one of our infamous boom bust cycles, sure, but for now I like living in a place that others want to move to. It's better then living in a place that is depressed and loosing residents.

For out of staters I always point out the gloomy winter weather, but if people are accustomed to Western WA weather, Bellingham is a great option as long as you remember there are always some negatives with the positives, no place is perfect. For those who find the negatives outweigh the positives, move, life is too short to be miserable.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by perigee

Lived in Bellingham years ago, moved away, moved back and I have to say I like the new Bellingham. Will it eventually have too many people move here, maybe, but we're no where near that point.

Bham has a bigger brand new Costco, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods (their ready to eat food is amazing), gentrification has improved neighborhoods that use to be a bit seedy and it's great to see all the other new local businesses popping up. Young men and women making a go at it, employing a bunch of eager hardworking people. I was talking to one developer that was building multifamily homes in Lynden and was told that all the units are already rented even before construction was finished! We have housing issues, but slowly we're closing the gap.

Could this be one of our infamous boom bust cycles, sure, but for now I like living in a place that others want to move to. It's better then living in a place that is depressed and loosing residents.

For out of staters I always point out the gloomy winter weather, but if people are accustomed to Western WA weather, Bellingham is a great option as long as you remember there are always some negatives with the positives, no place is perfect. For those who find the negatives outweigh the positives, move, life is too short to be miserable.

RE; still lots of room before reaching "too many people"--correct. There are still 1-acre parcels of land in town, still lots of undeveloped land, though that will be disappearing soon enough, I imagine. But for now, there's still plenty of room.

As for Whole Foods' hot bar/prepared foods, the soups are full of starches and fillers (some have the thickness of heavy gravy), and in addition, some are sweetened with sugar. The quality of some of their standard main dishes, like macaroni, has gone way downhill, and no longer looks edible. The small selection of Thai is nice. But be aware that they don't prepare those hot bar items themselves. They buy all of that from a regional supplier, and it's trucked in. In my town, every store carries some of the same salads and soups they have, bought from the same supplier.

Their rotisserie chickens jumped in price by about $2.00 in one year, recently, as they switched suppliers. I suspect they found a cheaper supplier, abut are charging more, to increase their profit margin.

[xPlorer48]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

RE; still lots of room before reaching "too many people"--correct. There are still 1-acre parcels of land in town, still lots of undeveloped land, though that will be disappearing soon enough, I imagine. But for now, there's still plenty of room.

As for Whole Foods' hot bar/prepared foods, the soups are full of starches and fillers (some have the thickness of heavy gravy), and in addition, some are sweetened with sugar. The quality of some of their standard main dishes, like macaroni, has gone way downhill, and no longer looks edible. The small selection of Thai is nice. But be aware that they don't prepare those hot bar items themselves. They buy all of that from a regional supplier, and it's trucked in. In my town, every store carries some of the same salads and soups they have, bought from the same supplier.

Their rotisserie chickens jumped in price by about $2.00 in one year, recently, as they switched suppliers. I suspect they found a cheaper supplier, abut are charging more, to increase their profit margin.

Sorry, I think there are too many people. If I have to wait one light at an intersection, that is too much traffic caused by too many people. A number of them are elderly retirees who really should not be driving. I have lived here my entire life and do not like the "new" Bellingham. I can remember when so have those memories while most of you do not.

[E Roy Slade]

people lost interest in this thread it seems

well im white and native mainly white liberal somewhat but been voting republican
this whole country is going to hell i think

belligham seems ok in ways but too many mindless liberals maybe

seattle is a joke i guess

if i say its great the scum will move in-so in a way why discuss anything